Just got my bloodwork done is my testosterone too low? 22M

jellyfishh

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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?
 
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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?
You're asking the right question.

At your age you shouldn't be looking at testosterone therapy. I'm no expert but as I understand it with some therapies the testosterone replacement further down-regulates natural T production making it hard to get off. I'm over 50 and avoiding testosterone therapy for that reason (I'm too young to get stuck on a therapy for the rest of my life). So I've tried to see what I can do with lifestyle changes. I've eliminated any known hormone disruptors (e.g. soy), minimized carbs, quit alcohol, started exercising more, tried to put on muscle mass, further cut body fat. My testosterone has come up a little bit...so I'm going to stick with it. Each year I'll re-assess and make changes as required. It is important to look at both total and free testosterone. You can have good total testosterone but if it is all bound up you don't have any free testosterone...which is what effects libido, energy, etc. Alternately you could have low total testosterone but have high free testosterone and so actually be in pretty good shape....
 
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jellyfishh

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You're asking the right question.

At your age you shouldn't be looking at testosterone therapy. I'm no expert but as I understand it with some therapies the testosterone replacement further down-regulates natural T production making it hard to get off. I'm over 50 and avoiding testosterone therapy for that reason (I'm too young to get stuck on a therapy for the rest of my life). So I've tried to see what I can do with lifestyle changes. I've eliminated any known hormone disruptors (e.g. soy), minimized carbs, quit alcohol, started exercising more, tried to put on muscle mass, further cut body fat. My testosterone has come up a little bit...so I'm going to stick with it. Each year I'll re-assess and make changes as required. It is important to look at both total and free testosterone. You can have good total testosterone but if it is all bound up you don't have any free testosterone...which is what effects libido, energy, etc. Alternately you could have low total testosterone but have high free testosterone and so actually be in pretty good shape....
I don't drink alcohol and I get 8-10k steps a day, I need to start strength training maybe that's why :/

How many carbs do you eat? I never know how many fat/carbs to get. Mine was a total testosterone test I think. Maybe I should get a free testosterone test? Thing is I already have acne, sweat a lot - even in winter and get pretty oily flat hair. So not sure if bumping my testosterone will help or make that worse
 
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I don't drink alcohol and I get 8-10k steps a day, I need to start strength training maybe that's why :/

How many carbs do you eat? I never know how many fat/carbs to get. Mine was a total testosterone test I think. Maybe I should get a free testosterone test? Thing is I already have acne, sweat a lot - even in winter and get pretty oily flat hair. So not sure if bumping my testosterone will help or make that worse
What time did you draw the blood? It was supposed to be first thing in the morning. If not, your test result may not show your peak level.

My testosterone results came in at a whopping 81ng/dL at like 25yo. Repeated tests have shown 90s and 100 to 110. Needless to say, I need TRT but not on it officially because blah blah blah...

I personally think yours could be higher for 22 but only if the test was taken first thing in the morning after a good night's sleep.

I've heard lifting weights help raise levels naturally. If you aren't really experiencing any symptoms of low testosterone then you are probably just fine. Good luck man!
 
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What time did you draw the blood? It was supposed to be first thing in the morning. If not, your test result may not show your peak level.
I think 8.30am
I've heard lifting weights help raise levels naturally. If you aren't really experiencing any symptoms of low testosterone then you are probably just fine. Good luck man!
Yeah only issue is muscle growth is slower on low T right? And thanks :)
 

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tryI don't drink alcohol and I get 8-10k steps a day, I need to start strength training maybe that's why :/
How many carbs do you eat? I never know how many fat/carbs to get. Mine was a total testosterone test I think. Maybe I should get a free testosterone test? Thing is I already have acne, sweat a lot - even in winter and get pretty oily flat hair. So not sure if bumping my testosterone will help or make that worse
try to keep your net carbs under 75 per day
 
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vas

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I don't drink alcohol and I get 8-10k steps a day, I need to start strength training maybe that's why :/

How many carbs do you eat? I never know how many fat/carbs to get. Mine was a total testosterone test I think. Maybe I should get a free testosterone test? Thing is I already have acne, sweat a lot - even in winter and get pretty oily flat hair. So not sure if bumping my testosterone will help or make that worse
It probably isn't one thing, but strength training is said to help. Long periods of endurance exercise can raise cortisol levels which can lead to lower Testosterone. Do you have a good BMI? I eat around 30 grams of carbs a day, quite low, YMMV. IMO processed foods are crap and to be avoided. Acne is often a diet problem.

Yes, when you get your testosterone checked you need them to include free testosterone which will usually include SHBG, otherwise you are only getting part of the picture.
 

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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?
I'm 65 and been on TRT for a decade. I was never tested for it till I was in my 50's. Back in the day no one tested for it except with older patients. I see there is a new look at it for the younger folks.

Yes, you are "in range". You're not overweight and that can be a factor. Do you do any strength training? That can really help with testosterone production. That said, I was actually put on it to reduce my generalized anxiety issues as mine was at 290ng/dl. Not sure if they would have if I was over the 300 mark. And for that it did work. Given you have a good libido, not sure if TRT is a fit. But that's a call for you and your doctor.
 

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Yes, you are "in range". You're not overweight and that can be a factor.
I was overweight last year but now my bmi is healthy - part of the reason why I wanted to get it checked...
Do you do any strength training?
I half arsed it for about 2 months and then gave up, I need to get back into it
I was actually put on it to reduce my generalized anxiety issues as mine was at 290ng/dl. Not sure if they would have if I was over the 300 mark. And for that it did work. Given you have a good libido, not sure if TRT is a fit.
My libido is fine but I have awful anxiety (especially social anxiety). Just to put into perspective, someone sat in my train seat the other day and so instead of asking them to move I had to go stand by the doors for the hour long train ride. I also have fatigue/low energy. I'm talking cba to even brush my teeth at night fatigue or get up out of a chair. Sometimes feels like i'm super glued down. I've had anxiety/social anxiety since like 14/15 so i'm not sure if that's just a mental health issue rather than low t lol. My libido is fine though - i think...
 
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It probably isn't one thing, but strength training is said to help. Long periods of endurance exercise can raise cortisol levels which can lead to lower Testosterone. Do you have a good BMI? I eat around 30 grams of carbs a day, quite low, YMMV. IMO processed foods are crap and to be avoided. Acne is often a diet problem.

Yes, when you get your testosterone checked you need them to include free testosterone which will usually include SHBG, otherwise you are only getting part of the picture.
30g a day? I eat like 200 :tired_face:

How do you fill your calories after you eat your protein goal if you're only on 30g? I tend to eat a lot of bread. Like maybe I just lack meal creativity but what are you supposed to have with meat if you don't have carbs. I gotta put down the sandwiches I guess

I'll get my free test checked then, do you know if medichecks is any good?

I just don't get what's causing my acne and sweating, i thought it was hormone related and this bloodwork was gonna help me figure it out but nope lol. I'm gonna take some magnesium supplements and see if that helps with anxiety in the meantime
 
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... I'm gonna take some magnesium supplements and see if that helps with anxiety in the meantime
Anxiety is a beast. It took me years to figure out maybe talking to a therapist could be a good thing. I even got on to a SSRI for it. But magnesium is great. So is perhaps a daily B12 complex (helps with nerves). Meditation. Yes it helps.
 
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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?

Firstly, don't panic! You're young and there's nothing to worry about at this stage. I bet it'll be higher if you get it re-tested. Mine has gone up since my early 30s, and I'm 43 now.

There's a lot of variation in T levels during the day, stress, exercise and even the meal you had the night before can affect it. You should:
  • Start strength training . See this as an investment in your mental health first.
  • Take a hard look at your diet, and read up online. You actually need cholesterol for good T levels (but don't go crazy)
  • Do whatever works for you to relax. Stress and anxiety can bring worse problems in your life than low T.
 

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30g a day? I eat like 200 :tired_face:

How do you fill your calories after you eat your protein goal if you're only on 30g? I tend to eat a lot of bread. Like maybe I just lack meal creativity but what are you supposed to have with meat if you don't have carbs. I gotta put down the sandwiches I guess

I'll get my free test checked then, do you know if medichecks is any good?

I just don't get what's causing my acne and sweating, i thought it was hormone related and this bloodwork was gonna help me figure it out but nope lol. I'm gonna take some magnesium supplements and see if that helps with anxiety in the meantime
Lots of good advice in this thread. Don't worry just work on things over time.

People are all unique so what works for someone may not for someone else, but if you keep working through things and paying attention to your body you'll figure out the right recipe for you the thrive.

IMO modern bread and processed foods with GMO wheat sprayed with gyphosate is to be avoided at all costs. I had anxiety issues for decades (social anxiety, poor sleep, negative ruminating, fluctuating emotions) it all got much better when I got rid of the carbs, and my skin cleared up.

edit: I don't count calories or macros. When I'm hungry I eat meat, butter, eggs, yogurt. When I'm full I stop eating. Usually that means 2 meals a day.
 
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Firstly, don't panic! You're young and there's nothing to worry about at this stage. I bet it'll be higher if you get it re-tested. Mine has gone up since my early 30s, and I'm 43 now.

There's a lot of variation in T levels during the day, stress, exercise and even the meal you had the night before can affect it. You should:
  • Start strength training . See this as an investment in your mental health first.
  • Take a hard look at your diet, and read up online. You actually need cholesterol for good T levels (but don't go crazy)
  • Do whatever works for you to relax. Stress and anxiety can bring worse problems in your life than low T.
Do you eat a low fat diet? Like this person indicated, cholesterol is needed to make hormones including testo. My testo was around 350 at your age. About 7 years ago, I started a higher fat diet and tested again and it was 550.
 

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Do you eat a low fat diet? Like this person indicated, cholesterol is needed to make hormones including testo. My testo was around 350 at your age. About 7 years ago, I started a higher fat diet and tested again and it was 550.
Probably, I don't really know the percentage of fats/carbs I need. I mostly try get my protein goal and stick under my calories. My meals aren't as nutritious as they could be. I tried asking my dr how much protein I was supposed to consume and she had no idea lol, she had to google it in front of me. I should probably eat more healthy fats but other than avocado i'm not sure what that consists of :/
This is usually what i'll eat:
Breakfast
4 chicken sausages
2 eggs
4 Slices of bread, sometimes 2


Skip Lunch

Dinner

250g 5% Beef Mince or 2 chicken breasts
250g Potato Rosti
Broccoli
Cherry Tomato


Snacks
Strawberries or Greek Yogurt or Protein Yogurt or Protein Shake

What fats would you recommend?
 
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I was overweight last year but now my bmi is healthy - part of the reason why I wanted to get it checked...

I half arsed it for about 2 months and then gave up, I need to get back into it

My libido is fine but I have awful anxiety (especially social anxiety). Just to put into perspective, someone sat in my train seat the other day and so instead of asking them to move I had to go stand by the doors for the hour long train ride. I also have fatigue/low energy. I'm talking cba to even brush my teeth at night fatigue or get up out of a chair. Sometimes feels like i'm super glued down. I've had anxiety/social anxiety since like 14/15 so i'm not sure if that's just a mental health issue rather than low t lol. My libido is fine though - i think...
How about thyroid, did you have that checked? That can cause fatigue big time, and effect other hormones. My wife needs more levothyroxine because she's upped her testosterone in her HRT. After a few days she's already not so tired at night anymore. Thyroid can be a lot of issues for men and instead men just worry about testosterone. Check your thyroid too!
 

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How about thyroid, did you have that checked? That can cause fatigue big time, and effect other hormones. My wife needs more levothyroxine because she's upped her testosterone in her HRT. After a few days she's already not so tired at night anymore. Thyroid can be a lot of issues for men and instead men just worry about testosterone. Check your thyroid too!
I'll have a look into it, this could be the issue maybe. Hoping it addresses my sweat/acne problem too :/
I'm sat at room temperature with literal drops of sweat running from my armpit - like I can feel it dripping and it's not even hot. If I wear anything under my raincoat my back is covered in sweat just by walking (in winter!). Not to mention the embarrassing time I went on vacation and after sitting on the plane for 2 hours I had a literal outline of my body on the seat. It's so fucking annoying and I have to try and hide it when I get up.
 

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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?
You're looking for medical advice on this site?! Talk to your doctor.
 

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You're looking for medical advice on this site?! Talk to your doctor.
I appreciate your concern but I've spoken to my Dr and she said everything looks normal and it's in the "normal range". The NHS is struggling so it takes more than a month to even schedule an appointment. To her it's "satisfactory" so I doubt I can even follow up on my tests or speak to another Dr as they probably have patients with bigger concerns. Like I said, she had to google in front of me how much protein I needed, she had to google what deodorant I should get to address my sweat - which hasn't worked... When my piercing got infected, the dr I went to was asking me if I had anything to keep it from burying into my ear and asked me if I thought antibiotics might help - like i'm supposed to know? Obviously if people recommend medications or anything that will affect my health then i'll speak to my Dr first. But, in the meantime I'm just looking for advice from people who were in a similar position. So I can either try it or speak to my Dr about something I think will help. Because, at the moment the Drs I've spoken to haven't really been helpful.
 

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My dr says everything looks fine and "satisfactory" but my "serum testosterone level" is 11.6 nmol/L. I'm not sure what that really means but I converted it to 334.5 ng/dL. The healthy range is supposedly 300-1000 ng/dL. Apparently anyone below 300 will "benefit from testosterone therapy" Although i'm in the healthy range, i'm on the cusp. And... i'm 22!!!! My testosterone is supposed to be at its highest. There are people in their 50s higher than me. I'm 6ft 1 and 162lbs. My libido is fine but i'm fatigued and get irritated easily by everyone lol. Not sure what to do, do I speak to my dr, find another dr, am I alright and being overdramatic? Idk it seems pretty low. Anyone got advice?
What was wrong with you to make you want to get a testosterone test done? How old are you.. ?

When I was around 40 .. I had test done plus had others tests done because my issue wasn’t erectile problems.. but I was always tired all the time and didn’t know why..

So had testosterone checked and it was a little low but not enough to cause an issue

Checked my thyroid and it was fine ..

Then they check about my history with mental issues and I’ve had them as far back as I can remember And they checked the meds I was on for it.. took me off them put me on newer ones .. and now out of all the meds I take they all pretty well says cause drowsiness .. so now I remain tired because of them pills . But I was better mentally until I was around 48 .. then went to other doctors and psychiatrists and they noticed I had been looked over for schizophrenia.. wasn’t major case of it but enough to keep my mind unbalanced plus had severe depression and anxiety


They changed my meds and took Time to get to right dosage but I feel better than I have in a long time .. still tired but that from the meds — but it’s a different tired I was feeling years ago..